Health history
January 31, 2005: Vatican announces pope has mild case of flu, forcing cancellation of appearances.
September 24, 2003: Pope skips weekly general audience due to an intestinal problem.
June 15, 1999: Flu, with slight fever, keeps pope from celebrating mass in Krakow, Poland, for 1 million people.
Also that year, illness forces pontiff to miss a weekly audience.
February 1997: Pope cancels general audience because of flu with fever.
October 8, 1996: Pope hospitalised for operation to remove an inflamed appendix.
August 15, 1996: Pope cancels general audience because of what Vatican calls an intestinal ailment accompanied by fever.
March 13, 1996: Pope cancels mass after Vatican says he is stricken by a similar ailment.
December 25, 1995: Overcome by fever and nausea, Pope interrupts Christmas message in St Peter’s Square and is bedridden with flu.
April 29, 1994: Taken to hospital after breaking leg in a fall.
Has hip replacement surgery. Discharged May 27.
November 11, 1993: Dislocates right shoulder in fall down steps at Vatican audience. Has operation and discharged after overnight stay.
July 15, 1992: Operation for benign tumour on colon. Leaves hospital July 28.
June 20, 1981: Hospitalised for infection linked to injuries sustained in attempted assassination.
Has operation August 5 and is discharged August 14.
May 13, 1981: Pope shot in abdomen and hand in shooting attack by Turkish gunman in St Peter’s Square. Spends 20 days at Gemelli Polyclinic hospital in Rome after undergoing surgery.
